Mic Pickup Patterns

What are the different pickup patterns mentioned in the video? What are each of them different from each other? Why would these be needed?

Omni directional microphones pick up sound from all directions but the frequency response is different in all directions.  Therefore, the microphone still requires the sound to come from the front. The cardioid polar pattern holds the shape of a heart, while a hypercardioid polar pattern is more directional, making the microphone less sensitive to audio coming from the sides. Bidirectional microphones pick up audio equally from the front and the back, with close to no audio being picked up from the side. This microphone can be used when a sound rejection plays a significant purpose for the recording.

Wrapping Cables

Why are A/V cables wrapped over/under and power cables wrapped over/over? Why is this an important skill for a beginning filmmaker?

A/V cables are wrapped over/under because this technique follows the natural coil of the the cable. Without proper wrapping technique, the lifespan of the cable can be shortened because the cable will eventually twist inside. A failing audio cable is especially problematic to a beginning filmmaker because they often do not have the budget to replace these cables. Thus, allowing the cable to have its maximum lifespan is vital to a beginning filmmaker. Being able to properly wrap a cable is also important when contributing to a production especially if one is working as a PA.

Foley SFX

What are three essential things that this article mentions to keep in mind? Why might each of these be important for video production?

1. Foley audio can be improvised without professional material.

Even if one does not have access to a room dedicated for sound effects, many audio can easily be recorded with simple day-to-day objects. For example, if the sound effect of breaking bones or skulls is needed, a snapping celery stick will work great. Striking a leather chair can be used as a punching sound effect.

2. Recorded audio can be enhanced in post production

After the audio is recorded, there are many different aspects of the sound that can be altered. For example, the pitch-shifting function ca be used to enhance the "thud" sound effect. In order to increase the impact of the sound, audio compressors may be used. Presets are also useful in providing a specific feel to the audio.

3. Keep the Foley unnoticeable

Although cool sound effects can be intriguing, at the end of the day, the point of foley audio is to be completely organic to the film. The audio must blend into the film, and therefore, too much foley audio can be distracting to the audience.

Iron Man without Music

Without music, how does the scene feel to you? Why? What aspects seem missing? How do you think having music change this scene?

Overall, the scene seems raw and realistic. All of sound is meant to be sound that could have potentially be heard in real life. Without music, the scene lacks the suspense music is able to provide. Music can play a vital role as a subtle foreshadowing. However, because the music is left out of the scene, every action comes up suddenly. Music would have enhanced the stress into the scene especially if it was fast-paced. A song with a faster beat would have helped increase the heart beat of the audience. Music is also able to provide dread into the scene. This would have been effective in the last scene where multiple people are holding a gun against the captive.

SFX VS. Final Mix

Use what you've learned about sound in the keynotes and readings. Describe 3 things that you notice about the before and after sound effects mix vs. the final mix. How are they different? How would you describe each of the differences?

Compared to the cut where only SFX and foley are used, the final mix has a much more intriguing sound because it contains music, dialog, and audio alterations. Music provides context for how the audience is supposed to feel towards the scene. In the Skywalker, the music added a more sci-fi, suspenseful feeling to the scene. Dialog directly tells the audience the emotion of a character. Although some scenes do not necessarily require dialog, the clarity of the dialog added in the final mix is helpful in understanding the characters. Audio alterations are especially noticeable in sci-fi films where robotic voices are necessary. In the final mix, the voices are completely altered so that it is synced with the character setting.

ET Without Music

What happens to this scene when the music is removed? How does it affect the viewer's experience?

When the music was removed, the excitement in the scene was completely cut. The scene was overall very awkward to watch, and the occasional dialog from the characters made the situation worse. The magic hour and the dream-like cinematography does not fit at all without the music. With the music, the flying bikes scene have a magical sense of levitation. It creates an iconic musical moment that many people will remember as the theme of ET. Without the music, not only is the scene awkward, but it makes the scene less memorable because it contains a less immersive feeling.

Sound Design

What are three interesting things that you learned from this video? How could you begin to start thinking about sound design in future video projects?

I learned that if a certain audio track sounds the same without specific sound, it should be cut off. It is most likely making the audio sound more muffled or less clear. I also learned that using organic sound is effective when dealing with objects that are composed of real life objects. In this video's case, they most prominently used sound that can be found in real life because the sound gun was composed of real life materials. I also learned that layering the correct audio can add depth into the sound. Although the individual clips were insignificant, combining them together with the right effects made the sound gun realistic. In future video projects, I can layer more sound effects on top of the pre-recorded audio. Sound techniques can be used to add emphasis to specific elements of the story.